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4 Tips for Using the Bible App with iOS 7

Today, Apple released the newest version of their mobile operating system, iOS 7. To help you fully leverage the latest technology as you engage with God’s Word, here are four tips for using the Bible App with iOS 7:

  • Full support for the iPhone 5 and the new Videos feature are here!Make Space…and Keep the Bible App. If you haven’t upgraded to iOS 7 yet, you may temporarily need to make room for the update on your device by deleting photos, music, or apps. If you need additional space, you can simply remove a few offline Bible versions, and then re-download those versions again later when you have more space available.

  • A Fresh Start. For some people, updating to the newest operating system is a chance to get a fresh start. If you’ve fallen behind on your Bible Plan, or simply haven’t used the Bible App in a while, this can be a great chance for you to start fresh, sign up for a new Plan, and get back on track.

  • Let the Bible App Do the Talking. Many users tell us how much they love using audio Bibles. During your commute, in the kitchen, or even when you’re exercising, audio Bibles take advantage of being able to engage with Scripture in a hands-free way, and in places we may not otherwise be able to.

  • New Languages. In iOS 7, Apple introduced two new default language options: Mexican Spanish and Australian English. If you happen to switch your device to either of those languages, it’s possible you may not be able to launch the Bible App. We’ve submitted a fix to Apple for this bug. In the meantime, you can switch your phone back to English or Spanish and continue using the app until the new update is available.

As always, YouVersion will continue to take advantage of new technology and new ideas, with the goal of seeing this generation become the most Bible-engaged generation in history.

 

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Easy Ways to Help the Bible App Reach 100 Million

If you’ve been keeping up with the Bible App lately, then you probably already know that the worldwide YouVersion community is approaching an extraordinary milestone:

100 million installs!

While we’d love to get there by YouVersion’s 5th birthday on July 10, 2013, we need your help to make it happen. Here are 3 easy things you can do right now to let people know about the Bible App:

  1. Share from the Bible App. If you have the most current version of the Bible App for your Android or iOS device, open the main menu and select Share. Then just tap the button and follow the simple instructions. (But even if you can’t get to your Bible App right now, you can still visit our special page, bible.com/100million, where we make it easy to share.)

  2. Show your support. Change your profile picture and cover photos to let your friends and followers know you love the Bible App. Just visit us on Twitter and Facebook, save one of our images, and make it your profile or cover photo. It’s fast and easy!

  3. Watch for opportunities. Wherever you are—hanging out with friends, in line at the grocery story, even at church—keep your eyes open for anyone using a smartphone. Ask them if they like their phone, then ask them if they know about the Bible App. Show them how to find it at bible.com/app or in their app store or, even better, install it for them (with permission, of course).

100 million may sound like a lot, but there are more than 7 billion people on the earth today. We’ve seen God do amazing things in the last 5 years, more than we could have ever asked or imagined. So we believe this is really just the very beginning. We believe that this could be the most Bible-engaged generation in history. And you can help!

Share and Win

Once a week, every Wednesday between now and July 10, we’ll be giving away prizes like iPads, iPad minis, T-shirts, and gift cards* to people who have shared the Bible App. All you need to do be entered in a prize drawing is share from inside the Bible App. Check in with us right here on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook, for details and winners!

*Certain restrictions apply. Not all prizes are available to be shipped to all countries and all territories.

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Latest iOS Bible App Update Adds New Features

You can get version 4.3 of the Bible App™ for iOS (iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch) in the iTunes App Store, available now*. While you’ll find improvements in responsiveness and other adjustments, we’ve also managed to squeeze several new features into this release:

  • Full iPhone 5 support. One of the most common requests we’ve been hearing from YouVersion’s iOS community is support for the iPhone 5’s larger display. It’s here!
  • All-New “Videos” feature. On the Bible App’s main menu—right alongside Reading Plans, Bookmarks, and Notes—you’ll find the brand-new “Videos” option. You’ve already let us know you enjoy watching video with Reading Plans. Now you can experience even more of God’s Word in this new way! Watch and share video content based directly on Scripture, like clips from History channel miniseries The Bible, Big Book Media and Toy Gun Productions’ The Lumo Project, and Jesus Film Media’s JESUS movie.
  • New “Getting Started” experience. When you first install the Bible App on your device, this handy tutorial walks you through everything you need to know, from setting up your free  ouVersion account to signing up for your first Reading Plan. Even if you’re already a long-time Bible App user, you might want to check out this great tool to see if you’ve been missing anything. Inside the Bible App, simply tap Help, Getting Started.
  • Show/Hide cross references and footnotes. Some Bible versions include additional supporting material that expands on the Bible text you’re currently reading. Now you can see these cross references and footnotes directly inline with your text. When you’re in the Bible Reader, just tap the Settings icon (the gear) and check the features you want to see. Hiding them is just as easy — simply uncheck.
  • Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements. We never stop working to improve your experience with the Bible App for iOS and YouVersion. Each new update allows us to pass several of these adjustments on to you, whether they came from issues you reported through our Support website or our own in-house testing and development.

Please tell your friends on Facebook and Twitter about this latest release, and let us know what you think. Your feedback plays a critical role in helping us determine what features we should be focusing our resources on.

 

UPDATE:

*We are aware of an issue affecting some users – if your app will not open or move past the YouVersion opening screen after you update, deleting and reinstalling the app will resolve this issue. Don’t worry about losing your info—your plans, notes, bookmarks, etc. will still be there for you when you sign in again. Our apologies for any inconvenience. Still need help? Head over to our Help Website and contact our team. Or find us on Twitter – @YouVersionHelp

Get Your Bible App Update Now:

If you already have the Bible App installed:

  1. On your Apple device, tap the App Store icon.
  2. When the App Store opens, tap the Updates icon.
  3. Tap Update for the Bible App.
    OR
    Tap Update All.


If this is your first time installing the Bible App:

  1. On your Apple device, tap the App Store icon.
  2. When the App Store opens, tap the Search icon.
  3. Search for “Bible”.
  4. Tap the Bible App from LifeChurch.tv.
  5. Tap the FREE button.

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Videos Feature Comes to the Bible App

We’re excited to announce the launch of a brand-new feature in the Bible App: Videos! You can immediately start engaging with the Bible through this new feature on the latest version of the Bible App for iOS, Android, and at Bible.com.

Now you can use the Bible App to watch and share Bible video content, generously provided by YouVersion partners. You’ll find clips from the History channel miniseries The Bible, which made a big splash during it’s premiere last night. You will also find  The Lumo Project from Big Book Media and Toy Gun Productions, as well as JESUS, the Jesus Film Media movie about Jesus’ life that’s already been shown more than 6 billion times worldwide!

At YouVersion, we’re constantly looking for new ways to help you engage with God’s Word. We believe Videos will help people connect with the Bible by letting them visually experience stories and concepts from the Bible—even if reading isn’t your favorite thing. Sharing video clips will also present new opportunities for you to invite discussion about your faith. And all video content is linked directly to the passages that inspired it, so you can jump straight to the original source!

To check out the Bible App’s new Videos feature, first make sure you have the most recent version of the Bible App on your iOS (iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch) or Android device*. Then simply go to the Bible App’s main menu and select “Videos.”(Wi-Fi access recommended for the best experience.) You can even see the new Videos feature on Bible.com!

 

*The latest version of the Bible App for Android (4.2) is currently only available in the Google Play store. This version will make it’s way to Amazon and other Android markets around the world later this week.

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Big Features, Updates Coming to the Bible App

Video is the newest addition to the Bible App, coming in the next release for iPhone/iPad, Android, and even at Bible.com!

“Videos” will be on the Bible App’s main menu, right alongside the tools you already love, like Reading Plans and Bookmarks. Watch high-quality clips from brand-new miniseries The Bible, the world-renowned JESUS movie, and The Lumo Project. Engage with God’s Word in new ways, as video brings Bible stories and concepts to life for you. And of course, sharing videos will also mean more opportunities to share your faith with others.

Another exciting update coming to the Bible App for iPhone in our next release: Full support for the iPhone 5’s larger display. Ever since the iPhone 5’s introduction, the YouVersion iOS community has been asking when the Bible App would support it. It’s here!

Please let your friends know about these exciting new Bible App features on Facebook and Twitter. And watch for release announcements, so you can be the first to get the new update as soon as it’s available for your device!